Black Marble — a.k.a. the synth-pop project of L.A.'s Chris Stewart — has announced plans for a new covers EP. Titled I Must Be Living Twice, the new record arrives on August 14 via Sacred Bones.
Today, Stewart has shared his take on Wire's 2015 song "In Manchester" alongside a new music video.
"I was initially drawn to the idea of covering 'In Manchester' because of the lyrics, which, for me, paint compartmentalized impressionistic snapshots of time and place," Stewart said of covering the song in a statement. "Some are more clear and feel like specific street scenes. Some are more oblique, but still feel grounded by the 'In Manchester' chorus."
He added: "Manchester is a stone city more akin to the feel of a Northeast American city. As someone who's been recently living on the West Coast, I miss the storytelling backdrop of these more old-world feeling places. I felt connected to the song through that, and started by introducing a bit more of an off-kilter feel with the underlying synth pad at the outset."
As for the EP, Stewart has also recorded covers of tracks by Robert Palmer, Lives of Angels, the Field Mice and Grouper.
"I've always loved the cover song aspect of live performance. Most musicians are fans first and covers are a way for bands to show this," Stewart said. "They can add an improvisational tone to an otherwise rehearsed feeling set, and give a sense that songs are owned not only by the people who write them but by the fans that know them and the other musicians that take influence from them."
I Must Be Living Twice follows 2019's Bigger Than Life.
Watch the Scott Kiernan-directed video for "In Manchester" below, where you'll also find the record's tracklisting. As part of Bandcamp's "No Revenue Share Day" tomorrow (July 3), it's also available to pre-order via the platform.
I Must Be Living Twice:
1. Johnny and Mary (Robert Palmer)
2. Golden Age (Lives of Angels)
3. In Manchester (Wire)
4. Emma's House (The Field Mice)
5. Poison Tree (Grouper)
Pre-order I Must Be Living Twice.
Today, Stewart has shared his take on Wire's 2015 song "In Manchester" alongside a new music video.
"I was initially drawn to the idea of covering 'In Manchester' because of the lyrics, which, for me, paint compartmentalized impressionistic snapshots of time and place," Stewart said of covering the song in a statement. "Some are more clear and feel like specific street scenes. Some are more oblique, but still feel grounded by the 'In Manchester' chorus."
He added: "Manchester is a stone city more akin to the feel of a Northeast American city. As someone who's been recently living on the West Coast, I miss the storytelling backdrop of these more old-world feeling places. I felt connected to the song through that, and started by introducing a bit more of an off-kilter feel with the underlying synth pad at the outset."
As for the EP, Stewart has also recorded covers of tracks by Robert Palmer, Lives of Angels, the Field Mice and Grouper.
"I've always loved the cover song aspect of live performance. Most musicians are fans first and covers are a way for bands to show this," Stewart said. "They can add an improvisational tone to an otherwise rehearsed feeling set, and give a sense that songs are owned not only by the people who write them but by the fans that know them and the other musicians that take influence from them."
I Must Be Living Twice follows 2019's Bigger Than Life.
Watch the Scott Kiernan-directed video for "In Manchester" below, where you'll also find the record's tracklisting. As part of Bandcamp's "No Revenue Share Day" tomorrow (July 3), it's also available to pre-order via the platform.
I Must Be Living Twice:
1. Johnny and Mary (Robert Palmer)
2. Golden Age (Lives of Angels)
3. In Manchester (Wire)
4. Emma's House (The Field Mice)
5. Poison Tree (Grouper)
Pre-order I Must Be Living Twice.